How to launch a BSP from POWL

[Former Member]

Hi,

We are planning on using the POWL (initially) as workflow inbox outside of the SAP Portal (we are turning off the SAP portal, thus losing the UWL).

I have configured the POWL following this guide http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-31014 and now my various workflow items/tasks are appearing. But I cannot execute them (most of them are to launch a BSP application for the object instance the work item is for.

The object navigation is not working, I have the impression it might need business object and iview configuration on the Enterprise Portal (which we are not going to have).

The function module handler option does not appear to allow me to launch a url (url to BSP page or BSP controller). I'm using CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>execute with the url to my BSP application. It gives error code 1. and nothing happens (ie no window opens). Some issue with gui not suported or similar it looks like in debugging. I'm assuming because the POWL doesn't run in the gui? How else can I launch a url though?

As for the launchpad handler I'm not clear how to use this, especially with passing parameters to the BSP to know which object to launch the BSP for.

How can I launch a BSP application from a work item in the POWL inbox?

Thanks and regards,

Philipp

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I see your point. I was going to suggest that you embed the POWL application in a custom application which should work. At the same time, POWL should still work from within NWBC even if you don't have EP. There should be a way to pass parameters from the POWL feeder class handler method. I'll keeping looking and try to find out what's needed in your case.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thank you for all your help Abdullah!

I was successfull in creating my own WDA application that wraps around the POWL and calls the BSP in a second view based on the action in the POWL.

[Former Member]

Hello ,

I found the real solution for this. You can define BSP applications as OBN objects in NWBC PFCG roles (no need for Portal). See the screenshot below. Although you marked this as answered, I want to add this for your benefit and the benefit of anyone else who might be wondering.

[Former Member]

Hi Abdullah,

Many many thanks for this. When exploring this approach I cannot establish the link between the pfcg role and the POWL config.

I have entered a bsp application and page for the node, and as object based navigation parameters: MANAGERWORKLIST.navigate_form MSS_WL.NAVIGATE_FORM={WI_ID}.

I have defined tasks and actions for object based navigation (OBJECTNAVIGATIONLAUNCHER) and action based properties:

MANAGER_MSS_INBOX_2 EXECUTEPCRBSP OBJECTNAME MSS_WL

MANAGER_MSS_INBOX_2 EXECUTEPCRBSP OBJECTVALUE WI_ID=${ITEM.EXTERNALID}

MANAGER_MSS_INBOX_2 EXECUTEPCRBSP OPERATION navigate_form

I have linked this to the task in question, I have even tried with and without linking the pfcg role that I have created in the POWL cockpit in 'Register POWL type' for the application MANAGER_MSS_INBOX_2 and the type MANAGER_MSS_INBOX_WI.

I can see all my config being read when having breakpoints in the work item feeder class CL_IBO_INBOX_FEEDER_WI and the OBN navigation class CL_IBO_CH_WD_INB_ACTHDL_ON. Still the link to the role and its node is not established, and I could not spot in debugging where it would be, ie what I was missing (I have also assigned the role to my user ID).

Have I missed something?

Many thanks in advance,

Philipp

[Former Member]

Here is some code I found that opens up a pop-up browser window from within an ALV list in NWBC. You can do it from POWL as well. You might even be able to call that piece of code within the HANDLE method without having to embed the POWL in a custom component leaving the return parameters blank so that the standard POWL method does nothing.

If you have the same method in your system, you can take a better look:

[Former Member]

Check this out. I think it might help point you in the right direction.

http://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/display/WDABAP/POWL+Pop-up+Editor

[Former Member]

If not using portal, how do you plan on starting the POWL?

[Former Member]

Hi Abdullah,

The  POWL is an ABAP webdynpro and I'm already executing it successfully in a browser through its url from a system that hasn't got a portal attached to it. No problem at all.

And I can also  successfully process leave requests through the powl, just not launch our custom BSPs.

And executing BSPs with or without a portal isn't a problem either.

Regards,

Philipp

[Former Member]

Did you try to open an "external" window from within the POWL WDA application?

[Former Member]

Hi Abdullah,

Presumably you mean this:

*DATA: api_component TYPE REF TO if_wd_component,

* window_manager TYPE REF TO if_wd_window_manager,

* window TYPE REF TO if_wd_window.

*

* api_component = wd_comp_controller->wd_get_api( ).

* window_manager = api_component->get_window_manager( ).

* window = window_manager->create_external_window(

* url = lv_url

* modal = abap_false ).

*

* window->open( ).

I was considering this, but as you say I need to do that from within a WDA application.

So I think I cannot implement this in the feeder classes CL_IBO_INBOX_FEEDER_WI and the action handler classes CL_IBO_CH_WD_INB_ACTHDL_xx.

Would I need to do that in the POWL related WD Components like

IBO_WDC_INBOX

POWL_TABLE_COMP

POWL_UI_COMP

But I wasn't quite sure how to go about this, ie how to enhance the WDA or whether to create my own WD Component, but then how to integrate that back with the main POWL application.

I have since read about event POWL_FOLLOW_UP (see this excellent blog http://scn.sap.com/community/web-dynpro-abap/blog/2011/07/06/navigation-from-powl-to-wda-without-obj...) which suggests to create your own WD Component, and embed the main POWL in one view, and the custom application (which would still be WDA) in a second view, from which I can open an external window as suggested above.

The POWL is supposedly highly customizable, and yes it is, but it looks to become somewhat limited when one does not want to use the SAP Enterprise Portal. Integrating from the UWL to our BSP applications was not a problem, but then that is within the SAP Enterprise Portal again and you have iviews to encapsulate the BSP applications within!

Just wanted to make sure I'm not missing a way closer to standard and using the POWL customization options before going down bespoking it the way the blog suggests.

Thanks and regards,

Philipp